Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method are provided for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into dispensing cartons which comprises, in combination, a stacker mounted adjacent to and aligned with a completed bag dispenser, said stacker having vibration means for automatically collecting a desired number of completed bags in an aligned stack, means for conveying said aligned stack of bags to a carton loading station, means for depositing a stiffening member over a predetermined portion of said aligned stack of bags, means for folding said stack of bags, means for conveying an empty carton from a continuous conveyor of empty cartons to said carton loading station, and means for automatically folding and stuffing said stack of bags into an empty carton at said carton loading station.

United States Patent OShea etal.

[15] 3,656,271 [451 Apr. 18,1972

PACKAGING MACHINE lnventors: Ronald J. OShea, Somerville; Bernd W.

Haase, Berkeley Heights; Albert W. Hawkins, Princeton, all of NJ.

Union Carbide Corporation, New York, NY.

Filed: Apr. 20, 1970 Appl. No.: 30,069

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Buttery ..53/21 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus and method are provided for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into dispensing cartons which comprises, in combination, a stacker mounted adjacent to and aligned with a completed bag dispenser, said stacker having vibration means for automatically collecting a desired number of completed bags in an aligned stack, means for conveying said aligned stack of bags to a carton loading station, means for depositing a stiffening member over a predetermined portion of said aligned stack of bags, means for folding said stack of bags, means for conveying an empty carton from a continuous conveyor of empty cartons to said carton loading station, and means for automatically folding and stuffing said stack of bags into an empty carton at said carton loading station.

10 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEnAPRmm 3,656,271 sum 010$ 11 I v If; my on s RONALD J.OSHEA BERNO w HAASE y ALBERT w. H wall A T OR NE Y PATENTEDAPR 8 I972 3. 656.271

SHEET 02 or 11 FIG.2

RONALD J. OSHEA INVENI'OHS BERND w. HAASE y ALBERT w. AWKINS ATTORNEY PATENTEBAPR 18 I972 3.656.271

SHEET on HF 11 W I" ,i w W 3 l 5 RoNALl h I SHEA v BERND w. HAASE my ALBERT w, HAWKINS ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPRI IEWE 3,656,271

SHEET MW 11 n v my To 5 RONALD J.0SHEA BERND w. HAASE m' ALB RT w HAWKINS %AV IM ZLMIK PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET 08 0F 11 INVEQJTORS RONALD J OSHEA seam) w. HAASE ALBERT w, HAWKjNS fi,

ATTORNEY lur l FIG/3 PACKAGING MACHINE ticularly relates to apparatus and method for collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags from a bag forming machine and loading said bags in bag-dispensing cartons. The apparatus of this invention is particularly well suited for use with high speed bag-forming machines.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for automatically arranging completed flat, flexible bags in stacks containing a desired number of bags and loading said bags in cartons, the apparatus being adaptable to vary the quantity and sizes of bags desired to be loaded in the carton.

Another object is to provide in association with a high speed bag-forming machine apparatus to collect and stack in aligned stacks a desired number of completed flat, flexible bags formed by said bag-forming machine and automatically loading said stacks of bags in dispensing cartons.

with the accompanying drawing.

It has now been found that the objects of the invention can begenerally attained by providing apparatus comprising, in combination, means for automatically collecting and stacking in an aligned stack a desired number of flat, flexible bags; means for conveying said aligned stack of bags to a carton loading station; means for conveying empty cartons to said carton loading station; and means for folding and stuffing said stack of bags into said empty carton. The bags so loaded in the carton may be dispensed from said carton one at a time.

In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a stacker mounted adjacent to and aligned with a completed bag dispensing means associated with a high speed bag-forming machine, said stacker having a wall pivotally mounted with vibration means connected thereto and a pivotally mounted bottom closure whereby completed bags dispensed from a bag-forming machine enter said stacker, and the vibrating wall of said stacker aligns said bags in a stack as they become deposited on the pivotally mounted bottom closure. A reciprocally mounted stack carrier is located immediately below and in vertical alignment with said stacker whereby an aligned stack of a desired number of completed bags are transferred from said stacker to said stack carrier upon opening of the pivotally mounted bottom closure of said stacker. The apparatus also is provided with means for conveying said stack carrier to a stiffening member dispensing station; means for dispensing a stiffening member from a stack of stiffening members and depositing the same on a predetermined portion of said aligned stack of completed bags; and means for concurrently conveying said stack carrier to a carton loading station and folding said stack of bags over the portion of the stack covered by said stiffening member. Also is provided means for conveying an empty carton to said carton loading station from a continuous conveyor of empty cartons said empty carton being stationed immediately below and in vertical alignment with a stuffing chute in said stack carrier; and means for folding and stuffing said folded stack of bags into said empty carton. Upon being filled the carton is conveyed from said carton loading station and said stack carrier is conveyed back to its station immediately below said stacker.

The apparatus and method of the present invention will become apparent from the following description thereof when considered together with the accompanying drawing which is set forth as being exemplary of one embodiment of the present invention and is not intended, in any way, to be limitative thereof and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, part in section and part in phantom, of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in an assembly having four parallel operating embodiments of said apparatus all performing the same function.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view, part in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, part in section and part in phantom, taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and part in phantom of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, part broken away, illustrating a collecting and stacking stacker of the apparatus of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view taken through line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing a side elevation view, in section, of a completed bag dispensing mechanisms aligned therewith.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevation view, part in section and part in phantom, illustrating the stiffener member dispenser of the four unit assembly of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view, part in section and part in phantom, of the stiffener member dispenser of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view, part broken away, of the stiffener member dispenser of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view taken through line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view, part in section illustrating a stack carrier of an interior embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, part in section, taken through line 1l--11 of FIG. 10 and showing the general relationship of a stiffening member being deposited over a portion of a stack of flat, flexible bags.

FIG. 12 is a plan view, part in section, illustrating a stack carrier of an exterior embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view, part in section and part in phantom, taken through line l3-13 of FIG. 12.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are fragmentary end elevation views, part in section, taken through line 13-43 of FIG. 12 illustrating in conjunction with FIG. 13 sequential steps in the loading of an empty carton with a folded stack of bags.

FIG. 16 is a plan view, part in section and part in phantom, illustrating the carton shuttle means conveying cartons to two of the carton filling stations of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary end view, part in section, of the carton shuttle means. of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are fragmentary end views, part in phantom, of an alternate bag stuffing embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a general assembly comprising four packaging machines that operate in concert and incorporate the essential features of this invention. In the packaging machine assembly there is provided a base support frame 10. Stacker 16 is mounted at the collecting or fore end of said frame 10 by brackets not shown in an attitude that would be adjacent to and aligned with completed bag dispenser 14. Stack carrier 23 is secured on carrier guide 21 which is slidably mounted on guide track 21(a). Guide track 21(a) is mounted on said support frame 10 and extends from the fore or collecting end of said frame 10 to the aft or carton stuffing end of said frame 10. The stack carrier assembly shown generally as 22 is reciprocally transported over the predetermined path set out by guide track 21(a) by engagement with drive chain 12 that is propelled by motor 11 mounted on frame 10 and drive chain 13. Support frame 25 is mounted on and above base support frame 10 on which are mounted the stiffening member assembly shown generally as 26, the bag stuffer shown generally as 59 and empty carton feeder shown generally as 70.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 stacker 16 is shown in an adjacent and aligned position with respect to completed bag dispenser 14 and completed flat, flexible bags 15 are being collected by said stacker l6 and deposited on pivotally mounted bottom closure 18. Wall 17 is secure to pivotally mounted shaft 19 that extends through bushing 19(a). Stacker 16 is shown in FIG. 5 as being mounted on springs 17(a) through a suitable alternative embodiment may include stacker 16 being rigidly mounted. Motor 17 (b) supplies vibratory excitation for said pivotally mounted wall 17 and a spring mounted stacker as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6 is shown the stiffening member dispenser assembly 26 for the four parallel operating packaging'machines in a stiffening member dispensing position and, in phantom, in a stiffening member depositing position. In FIG. 7 is shown a side elevation view, part in section and part in phantom, of a single embodiment of the stiffening member dispenser.

Stiffening members 28, as, for example, uniform pieces of cardboard are stacked in container 27 that is mounted on frame 25, said stack of stiffening members resting on tabs 39 located at the bottom of container 27 (FIG. 8).

Engaging the bottom member of the stiffening member stack 28 is vacuum cup 30(a) attached to the end of hollow shaft 30, shaft 30 being mounted perpendicularly from hollow shaft 29. Shaft 29 extends through housing 33 and is rotatably secured therein. Hollow shaft 29 is connected through hollow pivot 35 to vertically mounted hollow shaft 36 that is slidably secured in sleeve 36(a) whereby a continuous air passage through shafts 36 and 29 extending through shafts 30 to vacuum cups 30(a) is formed.

Cam track 31 (FIG. 7) vertically mounted from frame 25 guides cam roller 32 extending from and pivotally mounted in housing 33 activating rotation of shaft 29 and thereby shaft 30 with vacuum cup 30(a) during the vertical travel of housing 33, said housing 33 being secured to a piston extending from cylinder 34.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 is illustrated a card denester generally shown as 38, the means for separating a single reinforcing member from a stack of said members 28 in container 27 whereby a single reinforcing member can be deposited on the stack of bags being conveyed in stack carrier 22. Cylinder 41 is mounted on plate 40 secured to frame 25. Secured to piston rod 42 is denesting member 43 which is guided by plate 40 under the adjacent wall of container 27 to engage the edge of the bottom member of stack 28. The top surface of the forward edge of member 43 that engages members of stack 28 is notched an amount equivalent to one-half the thickness of a single stiffening member whereby the step formed in forward edge of member 43 engages the bottom member of stack 28 and denests it from other members of the stack.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 to 15, stack carrier shown generally as 22 comprises in an assembly of four parallel operating machines, stack carrier containers 23 the two outside members of which are secured to stack carrier guides 21 that are slidably mounted on stack carrier guides 21(a).

The bottom closure of stack carrier 23 upon which the aligned stack of bags are deposited comprises folding arms 50 and flexible cover 52 supported thereon, said folding arms 50 being secured to pivotal shaft 51 mounted intermediate the bottom portion of said stack carrier 23 extending between the front and rear walls thereof and adjacent to said pivotal shaft is discharge opening 54 between plates 55. Leaf springs 53 are secured to a plate 55 extending over a portion of discharge opening 54.

A reciprocating gear follower 49 is slidably mounted in an upright position on the outside of a wall of stack carrier 23 adjacent to and enmeshed with gear 52(a) secured to the end of shaft 51. Cam roller 48 rotatably mounted at the lower end of reciprocating follower 49 contacts cam track 47 that extends between the stiffening member depositing means 26 to the carton stuffing station 59 (see FIG. 1), the configuration of cam track 47 actuating the reciprocating travel of gear follower 49 and thereby the pivotal travel of shaft 51 and folding arms 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 folding arms 50, cover 52 and a stack of bags 15 are shown in the fold position over the portion of bags covered by stiffening member 28 and stuffing arms 60 are in position to stuff said folded stack of bags 15 through discharge opening 54 into vertically aligned empty carton 71.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 stuffing arms 60 are mounted in a vertical position from plate 60(a), in a spaced, aligned relationship, extending downwardly from plate (a) in alignment with discharge opening 54 and spacedly aligned between folding arms 50 and cover 52. Plate 60(a) is secured to the end of the piston rod extending from cylinder 61. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 wherein four parallel packaging machines are operating in concert, stuffing arms 60 are provided for at the carton stuffing station for each packaging machine. An alternate embodiment of the carton stuffing means is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 wherein stuffing arm 60 is secured to plate 60(a) downwardly extending therefrom in vertical alignment with discharge opening 54 and spacedly aligned between folding arms not shown. Bracket is secured to stuffmg arm 60. Grabbing arm 62 is secured to cam roller bracket 64 that is pivotally mounted on bracket 65 at pivot 66. Cam roller 67 is rotatably secured to bracket 64 at the end opposite the grabbing arm. Cam track 63 is vertically secured at one end to frame 25 downwardly extending therefrom to engage with cam roller 67 and provide track guide therefor. Tension spring 68 is secured between cam roller 67 and member 68(a) horizontally secured through plate 60(a). Tension spring 68 maintains cam roller 67 in contact with cam track 63 and the cam track guides grabbing arm 62 while stuffing bags 15 through discharge opening 54 to empty carton 71.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17 wherein is illustrated a carton shuttle means for two parallel operating packaging machines that is a component part of the empty carton feeder means shown generally as 70 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Empty carton 71 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is deposited on shuttle plate 76 by chute 72. Shuttle plate 76 is pivotally mounted through pivot 81 to shuttle carrier 77. Shuttle carrier 77 is reciprocally mounted on the horizontally disposed carton shuttle guides 82 and secured at the bottom to carton shuttle drive means shown generally as 75. Carton shuttle guides 82 are mounted on frame 10 and extend from below empty carton chute 72 to below the carton stuffing means 59. Shuttle plate cam roller is mounted under shuttle plate 76 at the leading edge of one end thereof. Cam guide 79 is secured at one end of a bracket the other end of the bracket being secured to frame 10, cam guide 79 being in horizontal alignment with shuttle plate cam roller 80. Tension spring 78 is secured at one end intermediate the leading edge of shuttle plate 76 and at the other end to an arm extending from shuttle carrier 77. As shuttle plate 76 is reciprocally transported by shuttle carrier 77 from the station beneath carton chute 72 (FIG. 1) to the station beneath carton stuffing means 59, shuttle cam roller 80 engages cam guide 79 and shuttle plate 76 is rotated whereby empty carton 71 (FIGS, 1, 2 and 3) transported on shuttle plate 76 is in both vertical and axial alignment with discharge opening 54 of stack carrier 23 (see FIG. 13) when the empty carton is deposited at the carton stuffing station.

A typical operation of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention will now be described and will be more readily understood when considered together with FIGS. 1-19.

Prior to start up, the fore end of the packaging machine is placed adjacent a completed bag dispenser 14 working in conjunction with one or more bag forming machines, the stacker 16 disposed in horizontal alignment with said bag dispenser 14. The bag dispenser has bag counting means not shown that is electrically coordinated with the automatic cycle control device, not shown, for the packaging machine of the present invention. In normal start position stack carrier 22 is stationed beneath stacker l6, stacker bottom closure 16 is closed, the rod end of air cylinders 34 and 61 are pressurized thus card dispenser shaft 30 and stuffing arms 60 are disposed at the top of their stations. A stack of stiffening members 28 as, for example, a stack of individual pieces of cardboard are placed in container 27 and a continuous line of empty cartons are in place on conveyor 69 with several empty cartons in chute 72. The vibration excitation motor 17 (b) (see FIG. 5 is turned on and the automatic cycle switch, now shown, is activated.

Bag dispenser 14 is turned on and bags 15 are dispensed into stacker 16 where they are deposited in an aligned stack by the action of pivoting wall 17. The bag dispensing means 14 .may have incorporated therewith an air jet, not shown, to

carrier container 23. The bottom closure 18 then closes, the

bag dispenser starts up again and stack carrier is conveyed to .the stiffening member depositing station immediately below the depositing means 26, by drive chain 12 that is activated by motor 11 through drive chain 13. At the stiffening member depositing station motor 11 automatically turns off and vacuum means, not shown, attached to shaft 36, (see FIG. 6) is activated. The head end of air cylinder 41 (see FIG. 9) is pressurized and denester plate 43 engages the edge of the bottom stiffening member in stack 28 urging said member off two of the supporting tabs 39 (see FIG. 8). The rod end of air cylinder 34 is exhausted and the head end is pressurized activating the vertical downward path of housing 33 and shafts 29 and 30 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Vacuum cup 30(a) engages the partially supported bottom stiffening member and conveys it downwardly to be deposited on a portion of the stack of aligned bags in stack carrier 23 (see FIG. 11).

The rod end of cylinder 41 is pressurized, the head end being exhausted, and denesting plate 43 withdraws from the bottom of container 27. The bottom member of stack 28 have been withdrawn, stack 28 then drops down onto tabs 39. The head end of cylinder 34 is exhausted and the rod end if pressurized activating the reciprocally mounted depositing assembly upwardly to the denesting position (see FIG. 6). Motor 11 again starts up and stack carrier assembly 22 is conveyed to the carton loading station where motor 11 is turned off.

As the stack carrier 22 is being conveyed to the carton loading station cam roller 48 mounted on gear follower 49 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) contacts cam truck 47 and gear'follower 49 is urged upwardly and folding arms 50 and cover 52 is rotated to fold the stack of bags 15 over onto the portion of bags covered by stiffening member 28. The folding arms 50 remain in the fold position while the stack carrier 23 rests at the carton loading station.

When the stack carrier 22 is at rest at the carton loading station carton shuttle drive 75 is activated and carton shuttle plate having an empty carton 71 deposited thereon is conveyed to an indexed position immediately below and in vertical and axial alignment with the discharge opening 54in stack carrier 23 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). Carton shuttle drive 75 is turned off upon carton shuttle plate 76 with empty carton 71 coming to rest at the carton loading station and the rod end of carton stuffing air cylinder 61 is exhausted and the lead end is pressurized.

Stuffing arms 60 are urged downwardly to engage the stack of folded bags 15 in stack carrier 23 and fold and stuff said stack of back through discharge opening 54 into empty carton 71 resting immediately below the discharge opening 54 as is shown sequentially in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. The rod end of stuffing cylinder 61 is then pressurized while the head end is exhausted urging stuffing arms 60 upwardly, withdrawing them from the stuffed carton and stack carrier 23.

Upon withdrawal of stuffer arms 60, carton shuttle drive 75 is reactivated withdrawing shuttle carriage 77 from the carton loading station and conveying it back to the station under empty carton chute 72 wherein by means, not shown, the filled carton is deposited on a filled carton conveyor 74 (see FIG. 1 and 3), and shuttle plate 76 is ready to receive another carton 71 from chute 72.

Concurrently with the withdrawal of the carton shuttle carriage 77, motor 11 is activated in a reverse direction and stack carrier assembly 22 is conveyed back to the stacking station immediately below stacker 16 where it is ready to have deposited therein a next stack of aligned bags from stacker 16.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a packaging machine that is capable of automatically collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags and then automatically loading said desired :number of bags into an empty dispensing carton.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that apparatus of this general type are capable of high speed operation, collecting and cartoning stacks of bags at rates as high as 300 per minute and even higher and the apparatus and method is suitable for use with a variety of sizes of bags or other flat, flexible materials.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A machine for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton comprising, in combination, means for automatically collecting and depositing in an aligned stack a desired number of flat, flexible bags; a car ton loading station associated with said automatic bag collecting means; means separate from said collecting means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags to said carton loading station; means for conveying an empty carton to said carton loading station; and means for automatically folding and stuffing said stack of bags into said empty carton at said carton loading station.

2. A machine for automatically loading flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton which comprises, in combination;

a. means for automatically collecting and depositing in an aligned stack a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags dispensed from a bag-forming machine;

b. a carton loading station associated with bag said collecting means;

c. means for conveying said aligned stack of bags to said carton loading station;

d. means for automatically dispensing a stiffening member from a stack of stiffening members and depositing said stiffening member at a desired location over a portion of said stack of aligned bags as said stack is being conveyed to said carton loading station;

e. means for automatically folding said stack of bags over the portion of said stack covered by said stiffening member;

f. means for conveying an empty carton from a continuous conveyor of empty cartons to said carton loading station; and

g. means for automatically folding and stuffing said folded stack of flat, flexible bags into an empty carton at said carton loading station.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said flat, flexible bag collecting and stacking means comprises a stacker having a pivotally mounted bottom closure whereby flat, flexible bags from a finished bag dispenser enter said stacker and upon contacting the vibrating wall of said stacker are deposited in an aligned stack on the pivotally mounted bottom closure of said stacker.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags comprises a recipro cally mounted stack carrier mounted on a horizontal conveyor having a predetermined path extending from immediately beneath and vertically aligned with said stacker to said carton loading station.

5. The machine of claim 3 comprising automatic means for opening and closing said pivotally mounted stacker bottom closure whereby said bottom closure opens when a desired quantity of bags have been collected in an aligned stack in said stacker depositing said aligned stack of bags on conveyor means vertically aligned with said stacker and then bottom closure automatically closes to collect an additional quantity of bags.

6. The machine of claim 4 comprising a stack carrier having a discharge opening in the bottom closure thereof, and means for conveying said empty carton to said carton loading station wherein said empty carton resides immediately below and in vertical and axial alignment with the discharge opening of said stack carrier at said carton loading station.

7. The method of automatically collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags and loading said bags in a dispensing car ton which comprises the steps of:

a. automatically collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags in an aligned stack as they are dispensed from a completed bag dispenser;

. conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags to a carton loading station;

. automatically folding said aligned stack of bags as they are conveyed to a carton loading station;

a conveying an empty carton to a carton loading station immediately below and vertically aligned with said aligned stack of bags; and

. automatically folding said aligned stack of folded bags and stuffing them into an empty carton deposited below said stack of bags.

being conveyed to said carton loading station.

10. A machine for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton comprising in combination:

a. means for automatically collecting and depositing a desired number of flat, flexible bags in an aligned stack, said collecting and stacking means comprising a bag collecting stacker having a pivotally mounted wall with vibrating excitation means secured thereto whereby said bag stacker placed adjacent to and in alignment with a finished bag dispenser collects and stacks finished bags dispensed therefrom;

b. a carton loading station associated with said automatic collecting means;

c. means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags to said carton loading stations;

d. means for conveying an empty carton to said carton loading station; and

e. means for automatically folding and stuffing saidfolding stack of bags into said empty carton at said carton loading station. 

1. A machine for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton comprising, in combination, means for automatically collecting and depositing in an aligned stack a desired number of flat, flexible bags; a carton loading station associated with said automatic bag collecting means; means separate from said collecting means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags to said carton loading station; means for conveying an empty carton to said carton loading station; and means for automatically folding and stuffing said stack of bags into said empty carton at said carton loading station.
 2. A machine for automatically loading flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton which comprises, in combination; a. means for automatically collecting and depositing in an aligned stack a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags dispensed from a bag-forming machine; b. a carton loading station associated with bag said collecting means; c. means for conveying said aligned stack of bags to said carton loadiNg station; d. means for automatically dispensing a stiffening member from a stack of stiffening members and depositing said stiffening member at a desired location over a portion of said stack of aligned bags as said stack is being conveyed to said carton loading station; e. means for automatically folding said stack of bags over the portion of said stack covered by said stiffening member; f. means for conveying an empty carton from a continuous conveyor of empty cartons to said carton loading station; and g. means for automatically folding and stuffing said folded stack of flat, flexible bags into an empty carton at said carton loading station.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said flat, flexible bag collecting and stacking means comprises a stacker having a pivotally mounted bottom closure whereby flat, flexible bags from a finished bag dispenser enter said stacker and upon contacting the vibrating wall of said stacker are deposited in an aligned stack on the pivotally mounted bottom closure of said stacker.
 4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags comprises a reciprocally mounted stack carrier mounted on a horizontal conveyor having a predetermined path extending from immediately beneath and vertically aligned with said stacker to said carton loading station.
 5. The machine of claim 3 comprising automatic means for opening and closing said pivotally mounted stacker bottom closure whereby said bottom closure opens when a desired quantity of bags have been collected in an aligned stack in said stacker depositing said aligned stack of bags on conveyor means vertically aligned with said stacker and then bottom closure automatically closes to collect an additional quantity of bags.
 6. The machine of claim 4 comprising a stack carrier having a discharge opening in the bottom closure thereof, and means for conveying said empty carton to said carton loading station wherein said empty carton resides immediately below and in vertical and axial alignment with the discharge opening of said stack carrier at said carton loading station.
 7. The method of automatically collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags and loading said bags in a dispensing carton which comprises the steps of: a. automatically collecting a desired number of flat, flexible bags in an aligned stack as they are dispensed from a completed bag dispenser; b. conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexible bags to a carton loading station; c. automatically folding said aligned stack of bags as they are conveyed to a carton loading station; d. a conveying an empty carton to a carton loading station immediately below and vertically aligned with said aligned stack of bags; and e. automatically folding said aligned stack of folded bags and stuffing them into an empty carton deposited below said stack of bags.
 8. The method of claim 7 including the step of depositing a flat stiffening member over a portion of said aligned stack of bags and automatically folding said stack of bags over the portion covered by said stiffening member.
 9. The machine of claim 1 including means for automatically folding said aligned stack of bags as said stack of bags is being conveyed to said carton loading station.
 10. A machine for automatically loading a desired quantity of flat, flexible bags into a dispensing carton comprising in combination: a. means for automatically collecting and depositing a desired number of flat, flexible bags in an aligned stack, said collecting and stacking means comprising a bag collecting stacker having a pivotally mounted wall with vibrating excitation means secured thereto whereby said bag stacker placed adjacent to and in alignment with a finished bag dispenser collects and stacks finished bags dispensed therefrom; b. a carton loading station associated with said automatic collecting means; c. means for conveying said aligned stack of flat, flexibLe bags to said carton loading stations; d. means for conveying an empty carton to said carton loading station; and e. means for automatically folding and stuffing said folding stack of bags into said empty carton at said carton loading station. 